Please tell me the data structure and save destination of DaVinci Resolve

Question

Please tell me the data structure and save destination of DaVinci Resolve

Answer

Data structure

As an example of a program that is often used, when handling WORD and EXCEL data on another PC, it is basically completed by passing a single file such as "*.docx" and "*.xlsx".

DaVinci Resolve is not packed into one file.

Depending on the information on the Internet, some project-based databases are described as project files.

It consists of 4 types of database, materials and added functions.

  • Database: Editing information based on editing history on DaVinci Resolve
  • Source files: “Video” and “Audio” referenced in editing
  • Added function files: "LUTs" and "scripts" referenced in editing*1
  • DaVinci Resolve Reproducible Files: Cache Files, Proxy Media, Optimized Media: *2

※1
If you haven't added any special LUTs or scripts, don't worry about it. It is an optional additional file when making certain edits. Although it is a different type of "material file", it is not possible to resume proper editing without these files when restarting the project. I'm sure that those of you who use this kind of thing already have a good understanding of the file structure, so I won't go into detail here. At the time of editing this article, I could only think of these two, but if I have anything to add, I will add it later.

※2
"Cache files, proxy media, and optimized media" can be generated with a database and source files, so we won't describe them in detail in this explanation, which focuses on saving.

By using this information and the DaVinci Resolve program, it is possible to edit the video.

I think the following three points are important for understanding the file structure of DaVinci Resolve.

  • using a database
  • Editorial information is in the database
  • Material files are "referenced"

The editing information in the database contains "link information of the material used", and the material file is referenced based on that information.
Since it is a "reference", no matter how much you edit it with DaVinci Resolve, the original material will not change. Now, I will explain how to return to the original situation when resuming from the saved data.
When resuming a saved project, check the material file based on the material link information listed in the database, display it in the media pool, and reproduce the timeline before saving based on the editing information. . I hope you understand that every time you restart the project, you are reproducing the edits you made up until the last time.

Destination

database

This is the DaVinci Resolve database location.
(There seems to be some information on the net that explains the specific location, but we recommend that you check it from the database.)

You will see the database folder

The database for each project is divided into folders in Resolve Projects\Users\guest\Projects under that folder.
If you delete or copy the project name folder from here, it will disappear from the project manager or the copied one will be displayed, but this is not an originally supported method. To prevent erroneous operation, we do not recommend starting from this point.

Right-click the project to be deleted on the project manager and delete it with <Delete>.
This will also remove the project's database.

material file

It is the storage destination of the material file itself. No movement by DaVinci Resolve.

To check the location of the file in DaVinci Resolve, right-click the material on the media pool and select "Open file location", or select the list view in the media pool, and the file path in the displayed list Please confirm.

Added function file

LUTs

[DaVinci Resolve] - [Preferences] -> [System] tab -> [General Preferences] -> [LUT Save Destination]

script

Please check the folder when setting the file of the script.

DaVinci Resolve Reproducible File

[DaVinci Resolve] - [Preferences] -> [System] tab -> [Media Storage] -> [Media Storage Location].

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